Former NFL WR Andre Rison sentenced to 5 years' probation

By Ryan Wilson | CBSSports.com

July 10, 2012 12:20 PM ET

Rison will work as a student assistant with the Michigan St. football team this fall. (Getty Images)

Andre Rison played for seven NFL teams over 13 seasons. His best year came in 1992 with the Falcons when he had 93 receptions for 1,119 yards and 11 touchdowns. Eleven years removed from his last game action, Rison, now 45, was in Phoenix federal district court Monday where he was sentenced to five years' probation for failure to pay child support. He's also been ordered to pay more than $300,000 in restitution for missed child support payments, according to federal officials (via the Arizona Republic).

More details via the Republic:

The indictment out of federal district court in Phoenix accused Rison, whose longest stretch as wide receiver was with the Atlanta Falcons in the early 1990s, of failing to pay more than $10,000 between August 2008 to August 2011. The indictment said the due date for his payments had passed about three years ago. The 13-year-old child lived in Phoenix at the time the payments were due.

In addition to the misdemeanor charge, Rison is expected to continue monthly child support payments of close to $2,350 along with $1,000 working toward paying off his restitution, said Agent Zeva Pettigrew of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations.

There's one potential problem, however: it's not clear where Rison will come up with the funds to pay off the $300,000 and change in restitution. As PFT.com's Michael David Smith wrote Tuesday morning, Rison admitted to previously blowing through millions in earnings and will appear in an upcoming documentary titled Broke about former professional athletes now left with nothing.

Sadly, Rison's situation isn't uncommon. According to the NFLPA, the average NFL career is three and a half years. Meanwhile, a 2009 Sports Illustrated report found that 78 percent of former NFL players are bankrupt or facing serious financial difficulties within two years of leaving football.